title: Thermoresponsive dendronized polyprolines via the "grafting to" route.
abstract: The first and second generations of dendronized polyprolines P3G1, P3G2, and P4G1 are prepared via the "grafting to" route, and their thermoresponsive properties and helical conformations investigated. High molar masses of polyproline main chains carrying azido groups are achieved first by polycondensation of peptide precursors through activated ester strategy. Oligoethylene glycol dendrons cored with alkyne are then attached onto the main chains through click reaction. These polymers are found to be thermoresponsive. Circular dichroism spectroscopy investigation indicates, in contrast to P3G2 and P4G1 which adopt the expected PPII conformation in aqueous conditions, P3G1 prefers to adopt PPI helical conformation, and this conformation is stable within the measured time period and temperature range.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry, Department of Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Nanchen 333, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiuqiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Afang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000480:Alkynes / Q000737:chemistry; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D050091:Dendrimers; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D010455:Peptides; C011083:polyproline
keywords: dendronized polymers; helical structures; peptides; polyprolines; stimuli-sensitive polymers